An arc furnace has a furnace vessel, a furnace inner chamber and at least one electrode (4) that projects into the furnace inner chamber. The furnace is characterised by an electrode receiving chamber (5) accessible from one side of the furnace vessel, thermally shielded from the furnace inner chamber and provided with at least one passage (9) for the electrode (4) oriented towards the furnace inner chamber. This electrode receiving chamber (5) designed as a depression allows a furnace vessel with a great overall height to be driven with a relatively short electrode (4) which thanks to its small, free and clamped length has a lesser tendency to break.
